How Jaylin Simpson became ‘the most electrifying safety in college football'

AUBURN, Ala. – As Jaylin Simpson finished his interviews this week in the Woltosz Football Performance Center and started to walk out, teammate Eugene Asante called out, as if doing a wrestling promo. 

"There goes the most electrifying safety in college football!”

“He’s certainly lived up to that brand of football every Saturday," Asante said. "Simp is somebody that you know is a security blanket on the back end. He has range to go from the middle of the field to one side of the field. He’s got that speed, that range, that ability to make big plays on any given down. 

"Simp is somebody we appreciate and we’re grateful to have on this defense. He’s going to be somebody where that (game) translates to the National Football League.”

Simpson is enjoying his best season yet at Auburn. Through the first seven games, he has four interceptions and his pass break-up against LSU led to another interception for D.J. James. He’s among the national FBS leaders in interceptions per game (0.60) this season and was recognized by multiple national outlets last week.

ESPN, the Associated Press, CBS Sports, Pro Football Focus, Fox Sports, USA Today, Sporting News, The Athletic, 247 Sports and the Reese’s Senior Bowl all had Simpson as one of their midseason All-Americans.

Simpson usually doesn’t look at that kind of thing, especially during the season, but Auburn secondary coach Zac Etheridge showed him some of the various All-American accolades.

“I looked at it, and it had all the guys. I usually don’t try to pay attention to it. I try to stay focused,” Simpson said. “But then I went back and looked at it again because I thought it was only SEC, and I was like, ‘Hold up, that’s a team way out on the West Coast.’ So, then I’m like, ‘Oh, this is everybody in the country? That’s a big deal.’

“I’m proud of myself. This is what I always wanted to do since I’ve been here.”

Now in his fifth year at Auburn, Simpson has already surpassed the number of interceptions he had in his first four years (3) this year alone. His first pick didn't come until his junior year in 2021 against Ole Miss, and it would have never happened had Derick Hall not missed a sack.

“I’m kind of glad he missed it,” Simpson joked.

On the play, Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral rolled to his right, avoided Hall, and took a shot to the end zone. He never saw Simpson who stepped in front of the receiver and snatched it away.

“It didn’t even look real as the ball was coming,” Simpson recalled. “It looked like a cartoon or something. I couldn’t believe it. But it was there, and the only thing I was thinking in my mind was, ‘Don’t drop it.’ And I just remember saying to myself, ‘Do not drop it, do not drop it, do not drop it,’ as the ball was coming.

“I caught it. I was actually going to try to return it, but I looked and saw a lot of jerseys. I was in the end zone, so I just dropped to the ground.”

In that moment two years ago, the ball didn’t look real. Simpson couldn’t believe what he was seeing. This year, when he sees the ball coming his way, it’s still a sense of disbelief. But it’s more of, “I can’t believe the quarterback threw that.”

Simpson, who moved to cornerback after his freshman year at Auburn, credits his move back to safety for part of the reason why he’s had so many interceptions this year. Though he misses cornerback, and the 1-on-1 battles specifically, he can see the ball a lot more playing safety, and it’s allowed him to showcase his ball skills.

But it’s more than that. Simpson is playing with more confidence and intelligence this year.  

“I think the biggest thing from (two years ago) to now is I’m a lot smarter player,” he said. “The IQ, the recognition of the offensive plays. A lot of times, I kind of know what the offense is running before they snap the ball. They give tips and and hints all over the place. You watch enough film, and you’ll see that stuff. I try to notify my teammates of what I’m seeing. That’s probably the biggest difference. I can recognize things.”

“He’s a very instinctive player,” Auburn wide receiver Jay Fair said. “Just always around the ball making plays. Smart player. Athletic. Right place, right time. It’s no surprise to me that he’s doing what he’s doing right now.”

Since Simpson arrived at Auburn, he’s had older teammates in the secondary to look up to, mentors to help guide him. Players like Noah Igbinoghene, Roger McCreary, Daniel Thomas, Smoke Monday – all of whom have gone on to make NFL rosters.

This year, Simpson is that mentor. He’s the one his teammates are looking up to.

“He brings that veteran mindset into things,” junior cornerback Keionte Scott said. “He’s been in the program for a while. He’s been playing for a while. He just understands certain situations, what needs to be done, and also just has guidance for you. When you come to him and ask him a question, he’s on it. He’s been in it for a long time, and he’s in a situation where he’s getting ready to exit so he’s trying to give us all the game he can.”

Though Simpson has never been much of a vocal leader – he’s more of a leader by action – it dawned on him in fall camp the responsibility he has to lead this next group.

“The young guys that are here, they’re going to have to step in and play at some point,” he said. “This is going to be their team, their secondary at some point. That’s when I realized I have an obligation to get these guys ready to play for when our time is up here at Auburn.

“I’ve embraced it. I like it. And I don’t have to be the type of guy that nobody wants to hear talk. Usually when I talk, they listen because I don’t speak up a lot.”

The single season record for interceptions at Auburn is 9 (Buddy McClinton, 1969). Simpson would have to average an interception per game the last five regular-season games to match that. But with just two more interceptions, he could move up into a tie for fifth all-time.

Knowing Simpson, he’s not worried about being fifth. He’s gunning for the record.